Integrative Biology Journals

Plant Diversity ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (03): 394-402.DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2024.09.006

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Resistance of plant diversity to road disturbance: Evidence from the Tibetan Plateau

Ziwei Chena,b, Dongsheng Zhaoa, Siqi Denga,b, Yu Zhua,b, Ke Wanga,b, Shunsheng Wanga,b, Du Zhenga   

  1. a. Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
    b. College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2024-04-22 Revised:2024-09-09 Online:2025-05-21 Published:2025-05-25
  • Contact: Dongsheng Zhao,E-mail:zhaods@igsnrr.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was funded by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (Grant No. 2019QZKK0403).

Resistance of plant diversity to road disturbance: Evidence from the Tibetan Plateau

Ziwei Chena,b, Dongsheng Zhaoa, Siqi Denga,b, Yu Zhua,b, Ke Wanga,b, Shunsheng Wanga,b, Du Zhenga   

  1. a. Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
    b. College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • 通讯作者: Dongsheng Zhao,E-mail:zhaods@igsnrr.ac.cn
  • 基金资助:
    This work was funded by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (Grant No. 2019QZKK0403).

Abstract: The expansion of road networks in recent decades has drawn considerable attention due to its impact on biodiversity in high-altitude ecosystems. Here, we conducted a comprehensive field survey to investigate the effects of road disturbance on plant diversity in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau. Our results indicate that road disturbance caused no significant changes in species richness, Shannon-Wiener’s diversity, or Simpson’s diversity, and the alteration in species composition was limited. These findings demonstrate the robust resistance of alpine grassland plant diversity to road disturbance. Plant diversity exhibited more resistance to road disturbance in regions with more hostile environments, such as plateau sub-frigid regions and alpine steppes. Our study suggests that road construction in the Tibetan Plateau poses limited risk to plant biodiversity.

Key words: Biodiversity, Highway, Anthropogenic disturbance, Stability, Resilience, Sustainability

摘要: The expansion of road networks in recent decades has drawn considerable attention due to its impact on biodiversity in high-altitude ecosystems. Here, we conducted a comprehensive field survey to investigate the effects of road disturbance on plant diversity in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau. Our results indicate that road disturbance caused no significant changes in species richness, Shannon-Wiener’s diversity, or Simpson’s diversity, and the alteration in species composition was limited. These findings demonstrate the robust resistance of alpine grassland plant diversity to road disturbance. Plant diversity exhibited more resistance to road disturbance in regions with more hostile environments, such as plateau sub-frigid regions and alpine steppes. Our study suggests that road construction in the Tibetan Plateau poses limited risk to plant biodiversity.

关键词: Biodiversity, Highway, Anthropogenic disturbance, Stability, Resilience, Sustainability